Police Tackle Illegal Immigration (KOMU-Missouri)

Police Tackle Illegal Immigration
Reported by: Elizabeth Gelardi
Posted by: Jaryd Wilson

Published: Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 5:29 PM

SMITHTON - A paper trail of fake documents and more then a dozen arrests are all part of the Pettis County Sheriff's Department immigration investigation.

On Thursday, detectives took search warrants and went on a sting to arrest more suspects.

They were looking for Mario and Odilon Artista. Detectives believe both are in the U.S. without proper documentation.

"It fit in, we received additional information that possibly Odilon and Mario were involved in helping make documents or provide documents," Detective Tolbert Rowe of the Pettis County Sheriff's office said.

The Pettis County Sheriff's Department is investigating illegal immigration by not only finding people allegedly carrying fake documents, but also the people who are making those documents.

"We're looking for Mario as we speak," Rowe said.

No one was home at the house, but detectives found two fake driver's licenses. Their search also turned up pay stubs, tax forms, and a passport from Mexico.

At a neighboring trailer, deputies found Odilon Artista. Police arrested him pending the filing of formal charges for identity theft.

Detectives also plan on making more arrests.

"We have information for about three or four other people that we've put together, who are either use or are involved in making fake documents. So we have two active arrest warrants and then two we are going to question regarding the forgery information," Rowe said.

So far in the investigation this year, police have already arrested more than a dozen people, and earlier Thursday police arrested Gabriel Flores on a felony warrant for forgery.